After constituents raised concerns that Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) was not voicing a position on gun control via a bump stock ban, Breitbart News reached out to his office but received no comment.
On Friday, October 13, Breitbart News emailed Culberson’s office to point out that constituents said Rep. Culberson “has not taken a position on banning bump stocks.” We also let them know at least one constituent worried Culberson was “planning to do whatever the NRA does,” which would mean supporting regulation for bump stocks.
Culberson’s press secretary responded to say they would get a statement to Breitbart News on Monday, October 16. Breitbart News corresponded again on the 16 but never received a statement regarding Culberson’s stance on gun control via a bump stock ban.
There is concern that the NRA’s push for ATF re-evaluation of bump stocks provided cover to GOP Reps. who do not want to take a stand for or against gun control via a bump stock ban. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Ohioans for Concealed Carry voiced this concern by “[lamenting] that ‘nominal’ gun rights supporters … [now] think they can use the NRA’s stance as cover for anti-gun legislation.”
Culberson has not clarified where he stands, but a number of House Republicans — led by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) — are pushing gun control for bump stocks. In the Senate, nine Republicans have followed the NRA’s lead and are open to gun control via ATF regulation of bump stocks. Those nine Senators are Dean Heller (R-NV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA ), James Lankford (R-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tim Scott (R-SC), and John Thune (R-SD).
On October 17, Breitbart News reported on ATF Association president Michael Bouchard’s letter to Rep. Curbelo, informing him that bump stocks do convert semiautomatic rifles into automatic weapons. Rather, guns outfitted with a bump stock only fire one round per pull of the trigger, like all semiautomatics.
A bump stock allows a gun owner to mimic automatic fire in short bursts. The same effect can be accomplished with an index finger and a belt loop.
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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